Cronulla rally around prop Andrew Fifita

The Sharks have rallied around Andrew Fifita amid serious concerns for the prop forward's wellbeing.

Fifita has been left confused after he opted out of his contract with Canterbury. He was always hesitant to leave the Sharks and was left rattled when he informed his teammates of the decision, breaking down after their round-one loss to the Gold Coast.

Related Content

“It would be confusing and disappointing for Andrew,” Noyce said. “I think we need to work with him as his incumbent club. He is a good young man and these things are disappointing and confusing.”

A Sharks source said the club was “blown away” by the Bulldogs offer to Fifita. That’s not to say the Sharks didn’t try hard to keep their star charge.

Advertisement

They pushed their offer to about $750,000 a season, and upped it to an extra season having originally wanted to secure Fifita for three years. South Sydney – the only other serious suitor for Fifita in rugby league – offered a similar deal to the Sharks. Rugby union also showed an interest.

Third-party agreements by the Bulldogs tipped the deal in Canterbury’s favour, and Cronulla was unable to compete with the sponsorship clout of their rich rivals.

Noyce said it was too early to restart negotiations with Fifita.

“We’ll work with him and review the situation,” Noyce said. “It’s a big change in three weeks from Andrew’s point of view. I’ll chat to him

“There are two things that need to be done; one is to look after Andrew and then two just get the information and then we can review the situation again.”

Fifita did a recovery and video session with his teammates on Monday morning and is expected at Sharks training on Tuesday before the winless side host the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday.

The towering 24-year-old was in career-best form last year with the Sharks, an integral part of the team that made it to the finals before being eliminated by Manly in the second elimination stage.

Captain Paul Gallen said he wanted his Kangaroos teammate to remain at the club.

“I don’t think it’s an issue that we ever want to keep him,” Gallen told Triple M. “He went for money. That was the reason he went.

"Obviously it’s fallen through. I have no idea how or why. I think it’ll be a blessing for everyone. [It was a] hugely inflated price The player market has been going crazy. It should put things back into perspective and things [will hopefully] get back to normal.

“As the club said, Andrew’s welfare is the most important thing. He would be pretty confused.”

Fifita’s twin brother David also plays for the Sharks and made his first-grade debut recently while Andrew was sidelined after a shoulder-charge suspension.

Fifita made his return from his two-game suspension in the Sharks' 30-0 loss to the Knights in Newcastle on Sunday.

“I know what he is going though,” Gallen said. “There is a lot of pressure. I’m not going to tell him to stay or what to do. Even when he did leave us he had my support.

“I think [the club] and Andrew can come to some agreement and he does stay. It’s confusing for everyone

“There will be a number of fans that want him back and there will be some that don’t.”